Specifying home directory paths

About home directory paths

You can specify multiple home directory paths. Data ONTAP searches the home directory paths in the order you specify for the directory that matches the user name. Data ONTAP stops searching when it finds the matching directory.

About home directory path extensions

You can add an extension to the home directory path if you do not want users to access the top level of their home directories. The extension specifies a subdirectory that is automatically opened when users access their home shares. For an example of adding an extension, see Specifying home directory paths from the command line.

Ways to specify home directory paths

You can specify home directory paths in either of the following ways:

Using the options cifs.home_dir command
Using the /etc/cifs_homedir.cfg file

The options cifs.home_dir command enables you to specify home directory paths as a comma-separated list. The list has a limit of 255 characters, including the commas. Alternatively, you can specify up to 1,000 path names in the /etc/cifs_homedir.cfg file.

Where Data ONTAP searches for home directory paths

Data ONTAP searches first for home directory paths that were specified by using the options cifs.home_dir command. If Data ONTAP finds paths specified on the command line, it ignores paths in the cifs_homedir.cfg file. If no existing paths were specified by using options cifs.home_dir, Data ONTAP searches for home directory paths in the cifs_homedir.cfg file.

Specifying home directory paths from the command line

To create home directory paths from the command line, complete the following steps.

Step	Action
1	Create directories to use as home directory paths. Example In the /vol/vol0 volume, create a directory named enghome, and in the /vol/vol1 volume, create a directory named mktghome.
2	Enter the following command to designate the directories created in Step 1 as the paths where Data ONTAP should search for user home directories: *options cifs.home_dir pathname,...* Example 1 options cifs.home_dir /vol/vol0/enghome,/vol/vol1/mktghome Result When a CIFS user connects to the filer, Data ONTAP searches the /vol/vol0/enghome path and the /vol/vol1/mktghome path for the user's home directory. If found, it offers the directory as a share to the user. If the path name includes a home directory path extension, use the following format: home_dir_path/%u%/extension home_dir_path is the home directory path. extension is the name of the subdirectory that you want users to access. Example 2 options cifs.home_dir /vol/vol0/enghome/%u%/data Result When a CIFS user connects to the filer, Data ONTAP searches the /vol/vol0/enghome path for the user's home directory. If found, it offers the data directory in the user's home directory as the home share. The share name does not reflect the extension; it is the same as if an extension were not used. Note You can enter home directory paths up to a limit of 255 characters, including the commas.

Step

Action

Create directories to use as home directory paths.

Example

In the /vol/vol0 volume, create a directory named enghome, and in the /vol/vol1 volume, create a directory named mktghome.

Enter the following command to designate the directories created in Step 1 as the paths where Data ONTAP should search for user home directories:

options cifs.home_dir pathname,...

Example 1

options cifs.home_dir 
/vol/vol0/enghome,/vol/vol1/mktghome

Result

When a CIFS user connects to the filer, Data ONTAP searches the /vol/vol0/enghome path and the /vol/vol1/mktghome path for the user's home directory. If found, it offers the directory as a share to the user.

If the path name includes a home directory path extension, use the following format:

home_dir_path/%u%/extension

home_dir_path is the home directory path.

extension is the name of the subdirectory that you want users to access.

Example 2

options cifs.home_dir 
/vol/vol0/enghome/%u%/data

Result

When a CIFS user connects to the filer, Data ONTAP searches the /vol/vol0/enghome path for the user's home directory. If found, it offers the data directory in the user's home directory as the home share. The share name does not reflect the extension; it is the same as if an extension were not used.

Note
You can enter home directory paths up to a limit of 255 characters, including the commas.

When Data ONTAP processes changes to cifs_homedir.cfg file

Data ONTAP creates a default cifs_homedir.cfg file in the /etc directory when CIFS starts, if the file does not already exist. Changes to this file are processed automatically whenever CIFS starts. You can also process changes to this file by using the cifs homedir load command.

Specifying home directory paths in cifs_homedir.cfg

To specify home directory paths in the /etc/cifs_homedir.cfg file as the paths where Data ONTAP searches for user home directories, complete the following steps.

Step	Action
1	Create directories to use as home directory paths. Example In the /vol/vol0 volume, create a directory named enghome.
2	Open the /etc/cifs_homedir.cfg file for editing.
3	Enter the home directory path names created in Step 1 in the /etc/cifs_homedir.cfg file, one entry per line, to designate them as the paths where Data ONTAP searches for user home directories. Note You can enter up to 1,000 path names.
4	Enter the following command to process the entries: cifs homedir load [-f] `-f` forces the use of the new paths.

Effect of changing home directory paths with open files

You can change the home directory paths at any time by using either the options cifs.home_dir command or by changing the entries in the cifs_homedir.cfg file. However, if a user has open files in a home directory path that you remove from the list, Data ONTAP displays a warning message and requests a confirmation for the change. If you use the -f flag with the cifs homedir load command, you will not receive a warning message before the new path names take effect. Changing a directory path that contains an open file terminates the connection to the home directory.

Displaying the list of home directory paths

To display the current list of home directory paths, complete the following step.

Step	Action
1	Enter the following command: cifs homedir Note If you are using the hidden naming style for home directories, when you display the list of home directory paths, Data ONTAP automatically appends a dollar sign to the home directory name (for example, name$).

When hidden home directories are not displayed

If you are using the hidden naming style for home directories, home directories are not displayed in the following cases:

In DOS, when you use the net view \\filer command
In Windows, when you use an Explorer application to access the filer and display home directory folders